First Look at 2025 Ratings

The USDA Crop Progress Report, released earlier this week, offered the first soybean condition ratings of the season. While it’s early in the growing season, the numbers provide a valuable snapshot of how the crop is currently shaping up across major soybean production states.

Only five states failed to surpass a combined “good” and “excellent” rating of 60%. Illinois reported 59% of its soybean crop in good or excellent condition, Michigan came in at 54%, North Dakota reported 58%, and both Ohio and South Dakota landed at an even 50%.

Nationwide Ratings

Nationwide, the soybean crop ratings break down to 1% very poor, 4% poor, 28% fair, 58% good, and 9% excellent.

A handful of states currently have double-digit “excellent” ratings. These states include Iowa (18%), Wisconsin (16%), Tennessee (14%), Mississippi (13%), Nebraska (12%), and Arkansas (12%).

Illinois Conditions

Ryan Gentle, a Wyffels agronomist based in west-central Illinois, said soybeans seem to be developing slowly this year. In his home state, the soybeans are rated as 2% very poor, 5% poor, 34% fair, 48% good, and 11% excellent.

“I have seen a few planters out last week still touching up low-population areas in the late planted fields,” said Gentle. “I would say most bean fields (conditions) are good to average, with the exception being the very first planted fields. They look very good.”

Iowa Conditions

The weather has played a pivotal role in emergence rates and early growth. Logan Dinkla, an agronomic service representative for Syngenta Crop Protection based in Iowa, noted that soybean emergence picked up following rainfall around May 19–20.

“The majority of what I’ve seen looks good,” Dinkla said. “There are fields where soybeans were not planted into moisture, leading to uneven emergence.”

In Iowa, soybeans conditions are rated as 1% very poor, 2% poor, 16% fair, 63% good, and 18% excellent.

Weather Outlook

With May ending both cooler and drier than average across much of the Corn Belt, Dinkla expected to see some variability. He saw that cooler-than-normal temperatures — daily highs in the 60s through much of late May — limited growing degree unit (GDU) accumulation, which slowed crop development in some areas.

“Forecasts for early June suggest a warming trend with chances of scattered rainfall — conditions that could help level the playing field for lagging fields and improve overall crop outlook,” said Dinkla.

As of early June, soybean condition ratings highlight a mixed start to the season, with some states off to a strong showing and others facing early challenges. With the crop now in the ground and early growth underway, weekly reports will paint a clearer picture of how the season unfolds.